ONEWORLD retreats bloghttp://oneworldretreats.com/blog
Mon, 02 Mar 2015 02:53:40 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.8.3Men and Yoga – It’s Not a Mythhttp://oneworldretreats.com/blog/men-and-yoga-its-not-a-myth/
http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/men-and-yoga-its-not-a-myth/#commentsMon, 02 Mar 2015 02:53:40 +0000http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/?p=1560Today, yoga is still often regarded as something for women only. Although yoga was made popular by men, such as... Read more »

Today, yoga is still often regarded as something for women only. Although yoga was made popular by men, such as Sri Krisnamacharya, known as the modern yoga guru, followed by Sivananda Saraswati, Desikachar, Sri Pattabhi Jois and B.K.S. Iyengar. In the west, men like Tim Miller, Larry Schultz, Rodney Yee, Erick Schiffmann and David Swenson have made their mark on yoga.

So why is it that many men still shy away from yoga? I can think of a few reasons, for example:

In many magazines, on television and in advertising, we see women doing yoga in sexy clothes, with perfect bodies bending like ballet dancers into acrobatic poses. Men do not feel they belong here or might even be afraid of being judged by their peers as sissies if they would join. And on the other hand, women still question if men coming to yoga class are there really for the practice or just for checking their bums which can cause men feeling awkward in the class.

Men think that yoga is about stillness and that it is a boring exercise. They do not know that doing yoga can really make you sweat and some poses are very challenging, even for strong, well-trained men.

Yoga is regarded as a thing hippies or people looking for enlightenment do, something with a slight ‘religious’ touch. This stereotyping scares many men away from yoga, especially business professionals but also the normal blokes.

Based on my personal experience, I honestly regret that not more men do yoga. It really has such great benefits. Yoga physically opens and strengthens the body on many levels, by getting the blood circulation flowing and the lymphatic system working. Yoga wires the neurons in the brain and when this happens, the brain becomes more active. Calmness, peacefulness, clarity and better focus and centering are the results, definitely something business men, decision makers and leaders can profit from. And along them, the rest of us as well!

I hope to see a change in the attitudes and look forward to seeing more men going to yoga studios, joining yoga retreats or just doing yoga for themselves at home. For me personally, yoga is not everything, but it truly gives me many things.

]]>http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/men-and-yoga-its-not-a-myth/feed/0OWR Diary: February 2015http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/owr-diary-february-2015/
http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/owr-diary-february-2015/#commentsMon, 02 Mar 2015 01:59:46 +0000http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/?p=1555Meditation – A Myth or a Reality? There are many myths surrounding meditation. The subject can easily be misunderstood and... Read more »

There are many myths surrounding meditation. The subject can easily be misunderstood and over the years I have heard many different stories. The best one was probably a man who told me that if he could not hallucinate, see amazing colors, images, if he could not aspire to levitate, then it was not worth his time to meditate. He was so fixed on this concept that he could not understand that meditating once or twice a day for 30 minutes was to live the rest of the day with clarity and peacefulness.

Another myth about meditation is that it is difficult to stop the mind and that meditation is for monks or wise people only. In reality meditation is not that difficult. The hard part is to discipline the self to fix a time, to sit and do it, to be patient enough to allow mind and body to feel the meditation. It does not happen overnight, just like you cannot learn to play violin overnight either, it is a matter of practicing. And by the way, the mind will never stop – that is what the mind is for! But between the thoughts there are black holes and this is where the seeker has to sit and find the space for meditating, the space of quietness and relaxation. Personally, I have my alarm set every morning at 5:45, I get up, drink warm water and then sit until 6:30, sometimes with music, sometimes in silence. Meditation is a free and powerful tool, it is a matter of believing in its great virtues.

]]>http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/owr-diary-february-2015/feed/010 Seconds with Jan Greenhttp://oneworldretreats.com/blog/10-seconds-with-jan-green/
http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/10-seconds-with-jan-green/#commentsThu, 26 Feb 2015 09:19:28 +0000http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/?p=15471. Why Yoga? After more than 25 years of yoga, I live my passion every day bringing yoga into the... Read more »

After more than 25 years of yoga, I live my passion every day bringing yoga into the daily life. It is more about intention rather than flexibility or endurance on or off the mat. Yoga opens the mind, body and soul to experience life in the purest and most enjoyable ways possible.

Being a yogini and doing yoga is a state of mind and lifestyle. “I am present – I am with my breath, I am at home in my body.”

2. How do you come back to inner peace?

Breatheeeee,

Yoga’s emphasis on breathing and the mind, body, spirit connection yields us strong emotional benefits and inner peace. “It helps us to learn not to concentrate on things we cannot control, to live in the present”, says Jan. “It seeps into our lives and we notice we can handle stressful situations more easily.”

3. Your top wellness tip?

- Being a yogi! Practicing for just 5 mins of meditation, 3 minutes of conscious breathing, 3 postures and 5 minutes of relaxation will change your day for the better. When the mind and soul are centered and the body is in harmony, it is easy to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

- Being loving and friendly towards everything that lives.

- Living and moving with compassion on and off the mat.

- Being kind with words, thoughts and actions.

- Offering a smile and kind word to a loved one or a stranger.

- Taking time out for yourself.

Jan is teaching her next retreat at ONEWORLD retreats, Yoga and Wellness retreat on 31 May – June and 13 – 19 September 2015.

Jan Green brings the benefits of yoga and meditation to everyone- all ages, levels and backgrounds. Her wealth of experience and knowledge draws from her lifetime passion for health and wellness. Her inspirational teaching comes from a wide variety of classes, courses and international yoga retreats. She inspires to teach others to create their own inner balance between strength and flexibility, vitality and relaxation.Read more about Jan

]]>http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/10-seconds-with-jan-green/feed/0Wayan Budarsini, Assistant Chefhttp://oneworldretreats.com/blog/wayan-budarsini-assistant-chef/
http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/wayan-budarsini-assistant-chef/#commentsThu, 26 Feb 2015 01:09:17 +0000http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/?p=1540Ibu Wayan comes from North Bali and has worked with us for almost seven years. Cooking is a family talent –... Read more »

]]>Ibu Wayan comes from North Bali and has worked with us for almost seven years. Cooking is a family talent – passed down for generations and it was one of her first hobbies. Working together with the supportive kitchen team, Bu Wayan is very fond of her position as an assistant cook, enabling her to put her passion to test by constantly providing delicious meals for our retreat guests.

Bu Wayan has been married for twelve years and has three children. Sadly, her first-born died from illness in 2004. “In reality, losing a loved one can be extremely traumatic. But as a mother, the lesson from this experience is that regardless of the routines you have going on in your life, get involved in your children’s life, love and gently guide them towards a bright future.”

The 33 year old woman looks up to the Gods, mainly Ganesha for guidance for a peaceful family life and protection from harm. “Ganesha brings peace in my family, for my family. Ganesha’s wisdom makes me live a better life.”

]]>http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/wayan-budarsini-assistant-chef/feed/0Sacred Sound: Discovering the Myth and Meaning of Mantra OMhttp://oneworldretreats.com/blog/sacred-sound-discovering-the-myth-and-meaning-of-mantra-kirtan/
http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/sacred-sound-discovering-the-myth-and-meaning-of-mantra-kirtan/#commentsWed, 25 Feb 2015 06:19:45 +0000http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/?p=1527By Alanna Kaivalya Did you ever wonder where the sound OM comes from? This mantra that we so often chant... Read more »

Did you ever wonder where the sound OM comes from? This mantra that we so often chant in the yoga or meditation class has its roots in the Sanskrit language but also appears within many traditions through sacred sounds like ‘shalom’ or ‘amen’. It is said that the ancient seers – called rishis – sat in elevated states of meditation and felt within their own hearts this powerful vibration. Their best estimation of its audible sound was that of OM. They thought it was the fundamental vibration of the universe.

Thousands of years later, scientists have discovered something called “cosmic microwave background radiation” – an all-pervasive vibration that is the earliest remnant of the Big Bang that blankets the entire universe. This seems to confirm the rishis’ original theory that vibration is at the source and heart of all things. It is also reflected in many mythologies that describe the world originating with a sound or word. In fact, modern science calls the origination of the universe the Big Bang. Once again, sound is at the heart of all things.

Other scientific theories of the universe propose that tiny vibrating strings are the basic building blocks of even the tiniest particles. Whether we look at elemental strings, the strings of a cello or our heart strings, all of us are moved in some way by vibration. Vibration is how we measure our brain waves, our heart waves and our feelings about someone else when we catch their “vibe.” While vibrations vary in frequency, if we were to dial them all back into a common resonance, the ancient yogis would say that this basic wave would feel and sound like OM or the resonance of the sound within our hearts. When we chant OM in a large group, the quality of the room changes, as well as the quality of our mind, because OM has the power to act like a cosmic reset button. It brings out-of-sync vibrations back into sync. It harmonizes the space – in the room, in our heart and in our mind. And we all like harmony.

I know of no other practice that can offer psychological, physical and emotional benefits in 1.5 hours. In the course of attending one yoga session we:

Strengthen our muscles, tone our bodies and increase flexibility.

Enjoy contemplative time to reflect (especially during long held postures).

Build community with like-minded people.

Open up to the possibility of healing physical and emotional wounds.

Mobilize and free up energy with our spines.

Learn how to breathe.

Bump up against our physical limitations, which gives us the opportunity to be humble, to laugh and to grow as individuals.

How do you come back to inner peace?

When I start to lose my center and connection to myself I do one thing, and one thing only. I roll out my yoga mat and with no specific agenda of what I will or I will find a comfortable seated position. I breathe, I stay still, and then I wait and see what my mind and body want to do. Sometimes I rise for Sun Salutations and an active practice, sometimes I lie back on some pillows and bolsters into a Restorative pose and other times I just sit still in meditation. Each day this practice looks a little different but the results are always the same. I feel grounded, I feel clear and I feel at ease.

Top Wellness Tip

Walk! Not tomorrow, not next week, but today. City dwellings and country folk alike can all walk anytime, anywhere. It’s cheap, and it’s healthy for our planet and our bodies. In the age of x-treme fitness and monster sized health food stores, I say the simpler the better.

Janet Nicol | Yoga and Meditation InstructorJanet is originally from Canada and has practiced and studied a variety of yoga, meditation and pranayama for over 20 years. Blending her studies in Ashtanga, Iyengar, Anusara, and Restorative, she draws on these styles to offer students unique classes weaving together the best of each tradition. She currently lives in Ubud with her husband and three sons, who attend Green School. She’s a lover of raw chocolate and Dancewalk. Read more about Janet

Yoga is a transformational practice that enlightens from the inside out. If you’re looking for a healthier, happier life, then yoga can help you shift your whole frame of mind in order to see it! It’s easy and there are lots of different yoga practices that help to uncover your true nature: bliss.

2. How do you come back to your inner peace?

As a New Yorker, it’s tough! But, I count on my meditation practice to keep me steady and connected. It’s the quickest, simplest way to reconnect to my bliss.

3. Your top wellness tip?

Do all that you can to find your bliss. Let everything help you channel energy toward that. The happiness of the heart is dependent on that enlivened pursuit. Keep that at the forefront of your mind and everything else will fall into place!

Alanna Kaivalya is a woman of many talents: author, mythologist, musician and mystic. She is the founder of The Kaivalya Yoga Method and the author ofMyths of the Asanas and Sacred Sound: Discovering the Myth and Meaning Behind Mantra and Kirtan. She holds a masters degree in Mythological Studies with Emphasis in Depth Psychology and uses her extensive expertise in myth and symbolism to feed her work in varied forms of mysticism…not just yoga, but also alchemy, astrology and tarot. Listed as Yoga Journal’s top 21 Yoga Teachers under 40, Alanna continues to lead retreats, workshops and teacher trainings worldwide.Read more about Alanna

Because it’s a totally work out, body-mind-spirit: It combines asanas, pranayama, sound healing, chanting, relaxation and meditation. It’s also about understanding who really you ARE, to be present in the now. All is about a free experience. Nobody can decide for you to do this or that. That’s great to unlock creative potential, to face fears and self destructive habits. I really think it’s a self discipline you can plan out each day for yourself as a gift. Then day by day, you experience joy, happiness, compassion and peace within your core. It’s a powerful key of awareness, self-healing. And because I love to dance, in my Kundalini Yoga classes, we are free to express body’s creativity while chanting with sound healing. You just follow mantra’s vibrations even if you don’t understand Gurmukhi language, it works very well. Keep it simple with fun!

2. How do you come back to your inner peace?

My secret key to come back to my inner peace is a lucky key. Why? because I have been blessed by the Universe receiving this powerful Spiritual name “Sukhjeet“ which brings inner peace. SUKH in Sanskrit means “happiness & peace” and JEET is a Hindi term meaning “victory or win”

So when I ‘m thinking aloud “SUKHJEET” during my daily life, whatever the moment, I feel totally well, centered, and deeply in peace. It’s win-win!! I’m so grateful and happy to be Sukhjeet. My path is also to bring peace to all and humanity and I work on it for many years.

3. Your top wellness tip?

Singing and chanting in another language than English or French makes me feel totally happy, healthy and blessed. When I awaken in the morning, the first thought I have is to go to my yoga room to do my Sadhana, 2 hours before sunrise. It’s not easy, yes to get out of my cosy bed but by now after many years of practice, I really need -at all levels- to do it. It became a positive habit like taking a shower or a relaxing bath. At that moment, I feel the call of my Soul being really grounded, centered… deeply in peace.

Sukhjeet Kaur | Kundalini Yoga Instructor and retreat leader
Sukhjeet applies a unique approach to emotional healing and self-awareness, using her training and experience in Kundalini Yoga. Sukhjeet combines the ancestral knowledge of Kundalini Yoga as taught by unique Master Yogi Bhajan, with the Tibetan tradition of self-healing . By introducing Tibetan intuitive Pulse into her teaching, she opens a whole new dimension of yoga practice.

Amjila M.D | Tibetan healing instructor and retreat leader
Amjila M.D focuses on balancing energy flows and polarities within the main energy centers and channels, giving life to all the traditional Tibetan ways of healing. Today, thanks to tantric lessons he received from his Master, his method directly links with and complements Kundalini Yoga practice as taught by his wife Sukhjeet Kaur.

]]>http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/10-seconds-with-sukhjeet-kaur/feed/0OWR Diary: December 2014http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/owr-diary-december-2014/
http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/owr-diary-december-2014/#commentsMon, 29 Dec 2014 07:13:19 +0000http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/?p=1447 From fax to internet! When you are over 50, you remember very well the arrival of the fax machine.... Read more »

When you are over 50, you remember very well the arrival of the fax machine.
I recall how in awes we all were at the office when we first got this small machine that we connected to the phone and could then send a letter to someone around the world in less than one minute! This was in 1983.

Then a few years later came the Internet. Well, how can I forget the crackling sound of the external modem and wondering if it was going to connect or not? I also remember one of my favorite radio show hosts doubting that Internet would take off! Hmm… little did he know! Now Internet is an integral part of our life: 87% of the total population of the planet (7.1 billion) has access to Internet, 1.35 billion are users of Facebook, 234 million active on Twitter, over 300 million are Instagram bloggers and about the same goes for LinkedIn.

All these new (less than 10 years) social media networks have changed the way we are, the way we communicate and the way we get information. Time has become irrelevant as the news travel in a matter of seconds. In the past years, we also have been quite active on social media networks as we feel that it is the way to reach out to all of you, old and new friends of ONEWORLD retreats.

As I am writing this, I am preparing myself to go on a two weeks detox in Sri Lanka, including total digital detox – should be interesting!!! I take this occasion to wish you an awesome Holiday Season, lots of joy, laughter, happiness and good health for the New Year to come.

]]>In today’s world of virtual communication, we often get in touch and build relationships worldwide through various online communication tools available. One of them is email.

Jati is probably one of the first people you virtually connect with before starting your retreat journey to Bali. He is behind all those reservation email conversations. Originally from Pekalongan, Central Java, Jati joined our team in 2012 and is an esteemed member.

Being part of a team in a company specializing in well-being gives Jati many insights. One tip he recommends for being mindful especially during busy times is just to remember to be thankful. He suggests that by shifting the focus to gratitude, we will feel more in flow, relaxed and happy with whatever we are doing. Just pause, take a deep breath and look around for the many things there are to be grateful for.

Before the year ends, Jati is looking back at the three main reasons he is thankful for this year: “I’m thankful for getting married last September, I’m thankful for a workplace where I can be myself and connect with many people – virtually and personally – and finally, I feel blessed for living in a tropical paradise with sunset views on my drive home from work.“

]]>http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/sukma-endrajati-jati-reservation-staff/feed/010 Seconds with Jim Harringtonhttp://oneworldretreats.com/blog/10-seconds-with-jim-harrington/
http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/10-seconds-with-jim-harrington/#commentsThu, 18 Dec 2014 02:06:55 +0000http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/?p=1423In this interview, Jim talks about using social media as a yoga professional. 1. Which social media platforms are you using... Read more »

In this interview, Jim talks about using social media as a yoga professional.

1. Which social media platforms are you using most and why?

Facebook. Being one of the biggest social media platforms, I use it regularly. I think it’s a great way of connecting with people. For me now, using one social media is enough as I’m more focused on my yoga practice, teaching yoga and leading retreats. But I’m looking to experience other social media networks like Twitter and Instagram in the near future because I think they are good platforms for building virtual relationships.

2. How do you use Facebook to grow your yoga class?

I mainly use Facebook to share the things I’m passionate about, for example a good article to give information or tips and to stimulate people to think about things. I try to be authentic about the things that I share. Before sharing something I like to ask myself is it right, does it have a good quality, does it resonate with my heart? It’s a bit like being a journalist and so sometimes we should double check on information and sources before sharing. My reputation as a teacher of yoga is good so I try to keep it that way.

3. Your top mindful social media tips?

UNPLUG. Use social media in moderation. Leave your phone at home. Let your phone battery run out. Right now I’m leading a retreat in Bali and in my spare time when I try to connect online and it won’t connect, I just like to unplug, get on a motorbike and head down to the beach and enjoy life.

4. What is the worst thing you see people do on social media?

The worst thing I see is when people neglect to be properly present with their company (those they are sitting with) because they are busy with virtual company.

Jim HarringtonMy involvement and fascination with yoga began with my first visit to the south of India in 1987 at the very impressionable age of 21. I met Saddhus who had devoted their lives to the spiritual quest and ordinary people that acknowledged the divine in each other with every greeting. In Sri Lanka, by chance, I joined thousands of pilgrims pressed shoulder to shoulder at the summit of a holy mountain at sunrise.My special interest is in how the practice and philosophy of Yoga can be used to enhance the quality of our modern lives. Read more about Jim

“If you educate a man you simply educate an individual, but if you educate a woman, you educate a whole nation.” James Emman Kwegyir Aggre

According to the World Health Organisation, Indonesia has one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in South East Asia. Hospital treatment on Bali is costly and out of reach for many Balinese people.

Bumi Sehat offers general family health services, education and environmental programs, health, nutrition and hygiene training, as well as midwifery and nursing scholarships to women and girls from poor families. They help many women who could not afford to go to hospital, through the birth of their children.

Over three million tourists per year holiday in Bali, enjoying its stunning scenery and beautiful culture. This fundraising project is a result of one of those holidays, created on behalf of a group of international women who attended a Women’s Mindfulness Retreat with Vibrant Women in Ubud in 2014, during which they visited Bumi Sehat’s inspiring birthing clinic in Nyuh Kuning village.

We invite you to join this project to fundraise a full scholarship for one local woman to complete a degree in nursing or midwifery. The new health professionals created by these scholarships gain clinical experience through Bumi Sehat, then return to their villages with their new skills, improving health outcomes for many more women and children.

This scholarship is intended as a gift of partnership between those who benefit from the beautiful island of Bali as tourists, and the people who call it home. It aims to change not only the life of one woman, but of her community as well. This is such a wonderful and generous way to give back Bali. You can view the details and make a donation below and the good news is that Bumi Sehat is a registered Australian charity so it’s tax deductable.

Any small donations are appreciated starting at $10. The Intrepid Foundation will match donations dollar for dollar, and cover all administration costs. So effectively the scholarship will receive 200% of your donation.

Thank you for your support, Tammie

Tammie is teaching her next retreat at ONEWORLD retreats, Women’s Mindfulness Retreat on August 23 – 28, 2015 and September 6 – 11, 2015

Tammie Day is a counsellor and group facilitator of 17 years. She runs retreats and workshops throughout Australasia and has a particular interest in the positive psychology movement, Buddhism and cultivating mindfulness. She weaves these ideas throughout her retreats and workshops, to provide you with tools to create lasting change and happiness in your life. Read more about Tammie

]]>http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/bumi-sehat-scholarship-fund/feed/0OWR Diary: October 2014http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/owr-diary-october-2014/
http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/owr-diary-october-2014/#commentsFri, 31 Oct 2014 06:24:02 +0000http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/?p=1394Windows of Transformation Since the beginning of time, there has been transformation, everything everywhere is in constant change, even a... Read more »

Windows of Transformation

Since the beginning of time, there has been transformation, everything everywhere is in constant change, even a stone at a very slow speed is transforming itself, nothing is permanent. What does transformation mean in our lives?

Personally, I transformed my self when I replaced the word religion with the word spirituality. At one point in my life, back in the late 80′s, I saw a light and it was my own light, a light that came from within rather than from outside, I had found my own switch!

Meditation became my way of praying, I no longer begged a God in the clouds with a long white beard, but rather looked within for answers and for the true meaning of my own life. It was a transformation that became a new way of living, of thinking and I have grown into an individual that could actualize himself without worrying about what others think and about the decisions that I am taking. It became clear that I could judge by myself what was right and wrong. I do believe that we are all one and I respect each individual, as they are part of the same universe in motion, transforming itself continuously. I believe the secret is to get into the same motion and go with the universal flow as an individual living without fears. I guess I am a true believer of the God of transformation – and that would be Shiva!

Religions are not bad as such, in fact they are platforms of understanding. I do believe that Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed and other prophets all had a message of peace and love, but it is how the prophesies were interpreted and made into laws on different platforms by powerful men that people became believers of others rather than believing in their own self. Look within, listen to your inner voice and feel the transformation.

]]>http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/owr-diary-october-2014/feed/0Allow the Transformationhttp://oneworldretreats.com/blog/allow-the-transformation/
http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/allow-the-transformation/#commentsMon, 27 Oct 2014 01:46:39 +0000http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/?p=1388Yoga has so profoundly affected me and changed my life for the better that I cannot help but want to... Read more »

Yoga has so profoundly affected me and changed my life for the better that I cannot help but want to share it with others.

Seven years ago I had reached a place of stagnation. I could no more easily have decided which way to go along my career path than I could have chosen what to have for dinner. I felt stuck in every way and I was scared. That fear manifested into anxiety and my choice of elixirs were Ambien, red wine and thankfully yoga.

The Ambien only made me forget that I hadn’t slept, the wine added to my depression, but the yoga – the yoga saved me.

Around this time, I had one of those moments in life while driving home from my yoga class – one of those forgotten kind of moments – where I could see clearly and I heard the voice of my heart tell me to move. Not move like pick up your things and move to Ohio… although move that way I surely would. More like, “just move Rachel, one foot in front of the other… it’s time to move again”.

Over the course of the next several weeks I learned to ask myself the hard life-changing questions on my drives home from class – for in that space of calm and centeredness I could actually find answers.

Shortly after, I left to travel the world through yoga. The fear and anxiety that would wake me at 2am – certain that there was an axe murder in my house, or that people would learn that my happy facade was a fabrication and not like me – started to fade.

Day after day, practice after practice and mile after mile I found my bliss and my life’s calling and in every way, mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally… I was transformed.

Now that I live in my hometown again, and I am married to my high school sweetheart and I own yoga studios – I can see where life presented me with two paths and yoga pointed me in the direction of my Dharma, my calling and my joy.

My favorite definition of a yogi is this: A yogi is one who observes. Be observant my friends. Study yourself, come to your mat and allow the transformation to come. You will be so very glad you did and we will all be better for it.

Rachel Roberts leads weekly classes in Cincinnati, Ohio as well as international workshops and retreats on yoga and meditation. In 2010, Rachel opened The Yoga Bar in the heart of downtown Cincinnati to create a yogi community center in her hometown. Read more about Rachel

“Yoga has so profoundly and completely changed my life in positive ways that I cannot help but share it with others.”

]]>Wayan Tekok knows Kumara Sakti inside out: he started 2006 in housekeeping, moved on to reception and is now assistant retreat leader. A remarkable team player, hard worker and ready to try new things. As assistant retreat leader, Tekok’s – as he likes to be called – warm smile and flexible character makes him the perfect person for this role.

Tekok was born on 1987 in Gianyar, some 20 minutes from Ubud. His father passed away when he was very young, leaving his wife to raise Tekok and his younger sister. He fondly calls his mother “my hero” because with her, the family is everything and without her – nothing. Getting married brought positive changes to Tekok’s life which he embraces wholeheartedly. As a Balinese he believes in Karma Pala, which means producing good results from a positive action.

Tekok is eager to meet many people from all over the world and to introduce them to the beautiful culture of Bali. One of his hobbies is photography and he demonstrates this passion by taking pictures of retreat activities. “I think it is nice to have a picture as a memory when you visit some place new. When you see the picture, at that moment you will remember the place and the people who made your holiday very special.”

]]>http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/wayan-tekok-assistant-retreat-leader/feed/2ONEWORLD retreats is coming to Australia!http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/oneworld-retreats-is-coming-to-australia/
http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/oneworld-retreats-is-coming-to-australia/#commentsWed, 10 Sep 2014 06:21:49 +0000http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/?p=1363Have you been thinking about doing a retreat and are curious what it is all about? Or maybe already did... Read more »

Have you been thinking about doing a retreat and are curious what it is all about? Or maybe already did one and would like to repeat the experience but just cannot find the time?

ONEWORLD retreats is coming to Australia and offer one-day workshops in Melbourne and Perth. Our Bali team along with long-standing Australian retreat leaders and local presenters vouch for an interesting experience. You can expect a full day of yoga, meditation, chanting, learning about nutrition, to follow your dreams and more…

Don’t miss this special opportunity at only AUD190 and reserve your ONEWORLD day now.

Iyan Yaspriyana, Yoga Instructor and retreat leader
Iyan Yaspriyana discovered his natural gifts in the healing arts as a child growing up in a traditional family in Java. He grew from treating family and friends with his unique and intuitive style of body therapy to sharing his healing gift with the world and relocated to Bali in 1999. When the student is ready the teacher appears.Read more about Iyan

Wayan Parta, yoga instructor
Wayan is a lover of yoga and of kirtan. Over the past couple of years, Wayan has been the assistant and student of many retreat leaders at Kumara. He doesn’t miss an opportunity to go deeper in his practice. Wayan is a certified yoga teacher after completing the Yoga Arts teacher training in 2010. Read more about Wayan

Claude Chouinard, workshop leader
Reaching dreams is not new to Claude Chouinard; over the years he has set many goals and has developed ways to achieve them. “It is not so complicated, it is a matter of knowing what we truly want and believing in the process,” said Claude. Claude’s journey on the holistic path has its beginning when he lived with Buddhist monks in Thailand and traveled throughout India as a spiritual pilgrim in 1992. Read more about Claude

Natalie Bondine, retreat leader
is a Wellness practitioner currently living in Melbourne, Australia. With more than 12 years of personal experience in natural health and various healing modalities. Natalie has been practicing, teaching, writing professionally on various health related issues for over eight years. She is specializes in all things Detox and owns a busy practice – Purity BodyMindSoul in Melbourne: sharing various healing and detoxification therapies. Read more about Natalie

Rajani Rebecca Fagan , Yoga Instructor, Physiotherapist and retreat leader
Rebecca brings the benefits of yoga and meditation to everyone- all ages, levels and backgrounds. Her wealth of experience and knowledge draws from her lifetime passion for health and wellness. Her inspirational teaching comes from a wide variety of classes, courses and international yoga retreats. She inspires to teach others to create their own inner balance between strength and flexibility, vitality and relaxation. Read more about Rebecca

Margo Field, meditation instructor and retreat leader
Margo is down to earth. She is renowned for her enabling compassion and personable manner. She focuses quickly on key issues while providing a comfortable atmosphere for her clients to explore and grow. Margo has been practicing and teaching meditation for more than 20 years. She has explored a range of traditions to develop her own style of urban mysticism. Read more about Margo

Devaraje
Devaraje teaches a beautiful soulful style of yoga. It is predominantly a slow and meditative Vinyasa flow incorporating breath and awareness within each pose as well as mantras. After completing her training at the Bihar School of Yoga in India, Devaraje studied with various teachers and has been instructing yoga in the Shivananda style since 2000. Read more about Devaraje

Devaraje & Scott Mitchell
The duo consists of singer-songwriter Devaraje and multi-instrumentalist Scott Mitchell.
Devaraje is a singer/songwriter. She travelled extensively through India where she spent many years studying the rich Indian music culture. Scott is a sitar player, multi instrumentalist and music producer. A regular performer in the Perth music scene, Scott has been playing sitar for 16 years as a soloist and recording artist. Read more about Devaraje and Scott

Karen Bartz, B H Sc Nutrition, B H Sc Naturopathy
Karen is a qualified naturopath and nutritionist with a passion for raw food. She is the author of the bestselling book Rawfood Reawakening and Director of Australia’s first School of Raw, the Raw Living Institute that trains raw food chefs and instructors. Read more about Karen

I feel as though Mindfulness is the cure to our hectic modern lives. Changes are occurring in our lives at an ever-rapid pace. Our roles as parents, partners, caretakers, employees, etc., all vie for our time and energy. We become even further stretched as we encounter life transitions such as separation, career change, loss of a loved one, health challenges or identifying our life’s purpose. The need to slow down, reconnect with ourselves is a form of self-care that has become crucial to our well-being.

2. How do you come back to your inner peace?

Mindfulness brings me back to my inner peace of course :). I have to remind myself throughout the day to stop and be mindful. I do this by using triggers to bring me back to the present moment. For example I have a post-it on my computer that says breathe. I also have a small Kuan Yin statue on the dashboard of my car so every time I get in the car I am reminded to be compassionate. In a busy city full of road rage this is a must! (Although I did once nearly throw it at someone, heee heee works most of the time). I also use transition events as well as objects to bring my attention to what I am doing. When I close the garage door at home I remind myself as I cross the threshold that I am home, just be home. Too often I/we bring other issues home with us, or we use up our best selves at work. I try to save some of my best self for home and just attempt to be there and not thinking about other things when I’m having quality time with loved ones.

3. Your top wellness tip?

Identify and prioritise what’s important. Palliative nurse, Bronnie Ware recorded the most common regrets of the dying and put her findings into a book called “The Top Five Regrets of The Dying.” It’s not surprising to see what made the list as they are all things that touch each of our lives as we struggle to pay attention to and make time for things that we truly love. This is a gift to each and every one of us not to waste our time, especially when so many people don’t have the gift of another day, it’s up to us to make the most of every opportunity. They are:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.
3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

Sometimes undertaking the exercise of writing your own obituary can help you clarify the legacy you want to leave behind which highlights what’s important to you. I can also recommend two books, “The Passion Test” by Janet and Chris Atwood, and “Authentic Happiness” by Martin Seligman, to help you clarify your purpose and meaning in life. When you are living your life in alignment with your true purpose, you feel energised and alive and more able to give to yourself and others.

Tammie is teaching her next retreat at ONEWORLD retreats, Women’s Mindfulness Retreat on August 23 – 28, 2015 and September 6 – 11, 2015

Tammie Day is a counsellor and group facilitator of 17 years. She runs retreats and workshops throughout Australasia and has a particular interest in the positive psychology movement, Buddhism and cultivating mindfulness. She weaves these ideas throughout her retreats and workshops, to provide you with tools to create lasting change and happiness in your life. Read more about Tammie

We practice yoga so that we might be healthy in body, calm in mind, useful in life and joyous enough to inspire others.

2. How do you come back to your inner peace?

I regularly need to fill my cup back up. Sometimes I do this through alone time and silence, I’ll go on a personal retreat or simply spend a day alone in nature. Sometimes, I get reenergized through social interaction and just teaching one of my regular weekly classes is enough to recharge my batteries. But most of all, I get to go to Bali every year to lead a retreat at Kumara and this tops me off for the year ahead. Simply setting foot in Bali reinvigorates my soul.

3. Your top wellness tip?

Meditate.

Even if it’s just for ten connected breaths. Stop each day and ask your body, mind and spirit how you are doing. This simple technique of observing how you feel will lead you to make wiser emotional, spiritual.

Rachel Roberts leads weekly classes in Cincinnati, Ohio as well as international workshops and retreats on yoga and meditation. In 2010, Rachel opened The Yoga Bar in the heart of downtown Cincinnati to create a yogi community center in her hometown.

“Yoga has so profoundly and completely changed my life in positive ways that I cannot help but share it with others.” Read more about Rachel

I compare regular internal cleansing to changing the oil in your car frequently enough. We all know that our cars work much better when we keep them clean. Our bodies are no different. A well designed cleansing program gives our bodies much needed digestive rest as well as supports our major organs of detoxification including the skin, liver, colon and kidneys.

2. How do you come back to your inner peace?

The specific details of my path back to inner peace are always evolving, but the one constant at least for me is to fully accept this moment as it is. This sort of surrender is not always easy, but whenever I do manage it, I’m always led home.

3. Your top wellness tip?

Great question! There are so many to choose from. If I have to choose just one, I’ll say: “Take 3 deep breaths before eating and eat slowly. This inevitably helps your digestion and causes you to be more aware of when your satisfied. Since most of us eat several times a day, the positive effects of this simple tip can add up quickly.”

Mark Ament is passionate about superfood nutrition and regular cleansing as part of a balanced lifestyle. Seeing tremendous health gains in his own life after regular cleansing 15 years ago, Mark studied the subjects of detox and raw food nutrition with some of the world’s best known teachers including Gabriel Cousens, M.D. and David Wolfe. He has been leading holistic cleansing retreats internationally since 2004. Read more about Mark

Yoga Pranala is a combination of Vinyasa Flow(inspired by several yoga schools including the Sri T.Krishnamacharya lineage, Bihar School of Yoga and Hatha Yoga) and Mudra Pranala (Healing art based on energy movement transmitted by Balinese shaman Tjokorda Rai). Yoga Pranala effectively increases inner and outer strength, enhances mental clarity, relaxation, total presence and harmony.. Through Yoga Pranala you activate life force by connecting the two major energy poles inside the body, which manifest as ‘Prana’. In ancient Balinese, Pra means first, Prana power, Nala inner fire and Pranala circulation or energy flow. Prana and energy movement is the essence of healing mind, body and spirit.Yoga pranala is a very comprehensive practice that teaches us become sensitive to energy via the medium yoga. It includes, asana, pranayama, chanting, kriya, meditation, etc.

How do you go back to your inner peace?

Through my daily yogic practice. My practice has become the most important thing in my life. With my yogic tools, I can access to inner peace even in the eye of storm.

What is your top wellness tip?

I drink a half a lemon in lukewarm water for detoxifying my liver and practice coconut oil pulling every morning. Oil pulling is an age-old remedy that uses natural substances to clean and detoxify teeth and gums. The concept is simple. Basically, a person swishes a couple teaspoons of oil in the mouth for 20 minutes and then spits it out and rinse you mouth well. Oil pulling is best done in the morning, before eating or drinking anything.

Linda Madani is an inspired spiritual healer and yoga teacher. She has been living and practicing yoga on Bali since 1995, studying Pranala with respected Balinese healer Tjokorda Rai. Linda is a highly experienced teacher with students from throughout the world. She is registered yoga teacher with the International Yoga Alliance (E-R.Y.T. 500), a certified yoga therapist in both India and the USA and a member of the International Yoga Therapist Association.Read more about Linda

There’s some baggage you want to lose in transit, writes Stefany Goldring

At a time well before I am usually functional or have had a coffee, I’m at an airline counter at Sydney airport, checking in my backpack for the relatively short flight to Denpasar. At 11 kilograms, the bag is probably the lightest I’ve taken on an overseas trip. The same can’t be said for my mind, which is filled with concerns about the path of my desired career and the pangs of a lonely heart. Luckily though, my emotional baggage isn’t weighed because it’s probably considerably heavier than the bike shorts and singlet tops that I’ve packed for a week deepening my yoga practice at ONEWORLD Retreats, Kumara, in Ubud.

Boarding the plane, I check Facebook one last time and then turn off my phone to ensure that I’m completely present during my week’s retreat. The anxiety of being disconnected sets in almost immediately. But, mainly I’m energised and excited by the thought of a week in the warmth of beautiful Bali, an island long dreamt of but never visited, filled with new experiences and opportunities.

My excitement intensifies about an hour after landing when Wayan, the driver sent from Kumara to collect me from Denpasar airport, deftly navigates his way through the narrow stone gateway that hides the resort from the hustle and bustle of Ubud. Stepping from the car into surprisingly gentle heat, I’m welcomed by the smell of frangipanis, the sweet scent of incense and another Wayan at reception.

I’m shown to my room – with rice paddy views and palm trees surrounding the covered terrace, I’m convinced that of
the fourteen bedrooms in the resort, mine must be the best!I unpack and wander the stone paths and stairs of the
resort, well shaded by a canopy of tropical trees, and spend what’s left of the afternoon in the lower of the resort’s
two pools. If I had my time again though, I would rush back to reception immediately to make appointments for as many extra treatments at the onsite spa as they could accommodate – like a Mandi Lulur Floral Bath or an Ayurvedic Crown Massage. The bliss of a two and a half hour Ayurveda Chakra Dhara massage and even the shorter 75 minute herbal massage teaches me that there is no such thing as too many treatments! But I learn the hard way that spaces are limited and they will fill up before you’ve stepped out of your shoes at the door of your room.

A MIXED BUNCH

The first yoga class and the introduction to the retreat and my fellow attendees is held in the larger of the two yoga shalas or studios. The composition of the group is as diverse as the various schools of yoga we practise. There are 13 women and one man, from marine biologist to miner; mothers and daughters; honeymooners; friends; and solo travellers from as far afield as Norway.

The three-walled, open air practice space is already (and always) neatly set up with mats, bolsters, blocks and blankets – everything we could need during a session is at hand, including extras I didn’t know I needed, like the sun setting over the rice paddies opposite. And, after just one day practising in such a calming space, I realise very quickly that any anxiety I have over my yoga ability is completely unnecessary. While some of the poses are new to me, this session and the ones that follow cater to our different levels of experience. Some in the group teach; some want to. One is a longtime practitioner while another is about to undertake her very first session. And there’s me – a self-described “intermediate beginner” who, despite a few months of semi-regular practice, is still quite inflexible and tight as a result of sitting at a desk all day.

We’re given options to deepen poses or try alternatives and this first session of restorative yoga, facilitated by Janet Nicol– an experienced teacher from Canada who is currently living in Bali with her family – is a gentle start to the week’s activities. Over time the restorative poses in evening’s classes become longer and harder but, as Janet repeatedly says, “No pain, no pain”, we’re reminded not to push past our personal level of tolerance.

MELODY AND MYSTERY

The first yoga session is strenuous enough to build a hearty appetite and we all head to the dining room for dinner. More carnivorous than most, I am grateful the retreat menu isn’t entirely vegetarian. Those who are, or have specific dietary needs, are adequately catered for. The results are delicious – locally sourced, fresh and nutritious dishes for every breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The following day I wake in darkness to the sound of a bell ringing. I needn’t have set the alarm on my phone and I don’t again. In what very quickly becomes my morning routine, I lift the blinds in my room and get changed in the pre-dawn light. I pad down to the yoga pavilion, and sit cross-legged, wrapped in my sarong to hide from the mosquitoes, while I sip on a ginger and honey tea in the peace and quiet while everyone else arrives. The morning sessions are led by the other retreat leader, local Wayan Partawan. A former traditional Balinese dancer, his movements exude grace and strength. In contrast to Janet’s firm voice, he is softly spoken. Until we start chanting. Then his soothing voice resonates loudly and confidently. More physical than spiritual, I actually surprise myself with the ease to which I take to the chanting. It’s surprisingly melodic and tuneful.

After the morning’s yoga I follow the schedule provided in my Personal Retreat Agenda. With different activities available at different times, one of the first is to visit a traditional Balinese healer. While I lean more to mystified than mystic, I approach the experience with an open mind.

With curious fingers and some painful prodding of my baby toe, the healer recognises quickly that my mind and body are not at one with each other. His diagnosis is that I am healthy but anxious. I guess my emotional baggage does take up a bit of space! I’m grateful he doesn’t know the cause of my conflict, because during this intensely personal experience, I have no privacy. I am surrounded by a handful of my fellow retreatees who, like me when the situation is reversed, politely try and look elsewhere during the consultation. He traces runic-like patterns on my stomach, massages my head and prescribes a dose of yoga as treatment. I’m in the right place then!

I’m also in the right place to enjoy Ubud as Kumara is only a short car ride from town. There’s also plenty of free time each day.

But my natural urge to explore is dampened by the peace and tranquility of the resort. I decide not to check out the monkeys in the Monkey Forest, or shop at the markets this visit because I know, and I’ve known from the moment I landed, that I will return to Bali, and Ubud. When it’s only six and a half hours from Sydney, why wouldn’t I? Plus, the pleasure of a spa treatment, a yoga session with Janet or Wayan, or an afternoon nap prove more tempting than the noise and busyness of town.

IT’S ALL SO QUIET

I have always struggled to tame my monkey mind but I’m hopeful that one of the retreat’s scheduled events will help. It’s a day of silence, for personal reflection and meditation. The silence is to help us reach a different level of consciousness and a better understanding of ourselves. While we’re not expected to fast, we are to avoid conversation and distractions including listening to music or reading. To begin, we’re cleansed with the smoke from a traditional Balinese purification ceremony, Agnihotra, and to help us avoid the temptation of talking, our hot drink orders are placed in advance, those who share a room will be separated for meals and those of us alone will dine in our rooms. Then, with a final Om and Namaste, the period of silence and internal reflection begins.

It’s easy at first as I make my way from the yoga pavilion to my bedroom. After a full day, sleep comes quickly and I have no need for distractions. I’m soon woken by bells and through the morning’s routine I avoid conversation easily. During the long meditation and challenging yoga session I try to build the connection between my body and mind by concentrating on my breath. Breakfast is served on my terrace. I feel no need for conversation and I’m so determined to last the day without distraction that a text from my best friend goes unanswered.

I begin to write down the fears, bad habits and negative thoughts I would like to let go of on small slips of paper that I know will later be burned. I sit at the desk by the window and paint the scenery before me with the water colours thoughtfully provided for this exercise. It feels like hours have passed but I realise it’s not yet lunch. I start to write down my goals for the future and suddenly it gets harder to concentrate. My iPad, in its sexy silver casing and loaded with games, books and music, tempts me from my inner thoughts. The normally soothing sounds of the water fountains and stream lead to multiple visits to the bathroom. I’m distracted by everything and nothing. I crave a beer: I make a tea. I can feel my jaw tense as I am debating my future, and thoughts of friends and family fly in to camouflage the fear of uncertainty.

An amazing 75 minute herbal massage not only helps the time pass more quickly but soothes aching muscles I had long forgotten or perhaps never been introduced to. I can’t help but say “thank you” to my masseuse.

After the evening’s yoga practice and dinner on my terrace, the only way I know to still my mind for sleep is to read. I give in to the temptation. It seems the medicine man was spot-on about my body and brain being at odds with each other. I fall asleep, eager for the morning and a chat. I have a few hours more to wait.

BREAKING THE SILENCE

Waking earlier than usual, I watch the sunrise on the road to Gunung Kawi, an 11th Century temple complex in Tampaksiring, half an hour from the resort. Despite the hour, the roads are surprisingly busy with people sweeping, setting up stalls and making offerings to roadside idols. The resort is still silent as the veil of silence is yet to be lifted. It isn’t until after our meditative session in the shadow of the 10 rock-cut shrines that are carved into the cliff face of the temple complex that Janet utters the words we’ve been dying to hear (well, I have – the day of silence has been closer to 36 hours): “ The silence is over”. One brave voice speaks out, which quickly crescendos to 14 excited voices commenting on the day’s success, swapping stories with a common theme of being slightly bored by nightfall.

As hard as it may have been, it seems that by the afternoon session everyone is especially energised. I don’t know whether this is a result of the strong poses or a return to the familiar but people hang back after class to practise or seek guidance on particular poses. Over dinner the conversation is loud, passionate and entertaining, and people linger to chat like the unspoken words stored needed to be spent. This energy stays with us for the remainder of the retreat and I see improvement in my own practice.

The final day’s session is fun as we test out new positions and partner poses but it’s also tinged with sadness as we know it is coming to an end. After a moving goodbye ceremony where the fears, bad habits and negative thoughts we wrote down during a time of silence are burned from existence, we hug goodbye with promises of a five-year reunion.

The retreat program doesn’t just deepen your yoga practice, it gives you a taste of and for Bali. The experience was incredibly positive and rewarding for me, being surrounded by supportive and likeminded people, each on their own journey, who started as strangers but left as friends. Kumara is an oasis of calm and serenity, staffed by beautiful, thoughtful people who turn the shoes you leave at the door to the dining room around to face the direction you’re heading when you leave. While the questions around my career remain unanswered and a solution for my lonely heart still absent, I have stopped biting my nails.

]]>http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/a-journey-inwards/feed/010 Seconds with Marije E. Paternottehttp://oneworldretreats.com/blog/10-seconds-with-marije-e-paternotte/
http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/10-seconds-with-marije-e-paternotte/#commentsWed, 23 Jul 2014 03:45:14 +0000http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/?p=1261 1. Why Yoga? Yoga, as a meditation in motion, is a tool to become more aware, to practice present... Read more »

Yoga, as a meditation in motion, is a tool to become more aware, to practice present moment awareness. When we are more aware, we experience more happiness. Read a more elaborate answer on my blog.

2. How do you come back to your inner peace?

I sit, I close my eyes, and focus on my breath. That may be for 3 breaths or for 20 minutes, depending on where I am and how much time I have.

3. Your top Wellness tip?

Get enough sleep!

Marije is teaching her next retreat at ONEWORLD retreats, Divine Bali Bliss Retreat on 26 April – 2 May and 27 September – 3 October, 2015

Marije E. Paternotte (E-RYT, RYT-500), owner of Be Your Own Yoga and co-founder of the Living World Yoga School, received both her foundational and professional level yoga teacher certification at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Massachusetts (USA). She has also been studying with Sarah Powers, one of the greatest experts in Yin Yoga. Read more about Marije

]]>http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/10-seconds-with-marije-e-paternotte/feed/0Living Your Dreamhttp://oneworldretreats.com/blog/living-your-dream/
http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/living-your-dream/#commentsMon, 07 Jul 2014 08:49:47 +0000http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/?p=1258“Are you OK?” We are often asked this question and we usually answer the same way as when they ask... Read more »

We are often asked this question and we usually answer the same way as when they ask us ‘how are you?’. ‘Fine, thank you’ is the common answer. But sometime we ponder about the answer. It happened to me and probably to you as well.

Sometimes my mind creates other questions, and in the end I am confused. Am I really ok I ask myself?

Actually I am very OK! I have what I want, because I know what I want and most often I do what I like, because I know what I like. For example, traveling, I wanted to travel and now every year I have the opportunity to travel. I wanted a career that I love, such as teaching, coaching, storytelling, inspiring, motivating, and being surrounded by nice people with beautiful souls. And now I am doing exactly that. I wanted to have a balanced life physically, financially, mentally, and spiritually and I have it.

The first time I flew by plane I was 29 years old and said to myself: “finally I can fly”. At 38 years old I visited Australia and I said to myself, ” Now, I am traveling the world”. And after 10 years of leading retreats, I say to myself “I am never bored with leading retreats, I genuinely love my work”.

While reaching for my dreams my faith was sometimes gone, my patience was often turned off and the affirmations were the opposite of what I wanted. Having a dream, affirming it, believing in it and being resilient has helped me to reach my dreams. This is what I learned and I am grateful to have the capability to learn and grow. Now I am living what I have dreamed of and I will never stop setting dreams, they are my motivators.

Reaching our dreams, objectives or goals gives us a sensation of victory and it makes us feel good and successful, allowing us to believe in ourselves no matter how big or small the dream was. The feeling of happiness prevails.

Believing in the process is the most important part of success. There are millions of stories that could be told about reaching goals and we all have some, starting at babyhood. It doesn’t take long before a baby has the dream to stand up on his/her own and walk. Without doubt, we all succeeded to reach that first dream, haven’t we? And since then, we have realized many dreams up until now.

Being doubtless is being a believer, yet sometimes as we become adults we don’t really know what to believe in or what we really want for our life. Finding our passions is cruciall; what is it that we really want for ourselves, unless we know we can’t reach anything, can we?

Iyan, Wayan and I will be hosting the Follow Your Dreams retreat/workshop in August, it is a program that we previously offered abroad, first in The Netherlands, then in France and in Thailand. This time we offer it in Bali!

“Inhale… feel your back relax…,” Wayan’s voice was guiding us as we began the Child’s Pose in our afternoon restorative yoga practice. The sounds from the jungle in front of our yoga shala in Kumara were the best soundtrack I could ever imagine for the occasion. In our guided meditation sessions, when Wayan asked us to be aware of the sounds, I would wonder what kind of bird produced those certain curious chirps I’ve been noticing lately. My mind was wondering when I felt Wayan’s cold fingers on a spot on my back, briefly applying some kind of balm. The act was unexpected, but the balm left a pleasant sensation, yet another wonderful detail I found in this retreat.

By the end of our yoga session, Wayan guided us to put our hands in praying position and touch them to our head, to acknowledge peace in our minds, as well as to our mouths… peace in our words, and to our chests… peace in our heart. “Know that in your hearts are kindness, peacefulness and gratefulness. Let them shine through.” These words somehow left a deep impression on me.

I have been too busy to realize that I have not been “kind” to myself. I have piled and piled my heart with problems, regrets, worries and even a good amount of joy, but forgot to really pay attention to it. These words that Wayan uttered in the end of our yoga session became something that I pondered upon during our Silent Day. To have peace in my heart, I have to make peace with all my shortcomings and regrets, which is never as simple as it sounds but I believe has a significant impact if done faithfully.

I made use of the Silent Day to scribble down thoughts that passed through my mind, trying to clear the mess inside by pouring it into words. The negative things that I wished to leave behind I wrote on the small papers that were provided in our rooms.

On the last day of the retreat, we made our own Balinese offerings and lit a small flame in a Mandala of flowers. We sat in a circle as each of us burned the papers, solemnly wishing that the negative things would cease in our lives. Then we walked down the stairs to the creek below Kumara to throw the ashes away as a symbol of hope for our better future, our better selves.

Joining this Immerse Yourself in Bali retreat was a marvelous gift. I feel privileged to have experienced the serenity of Kumara, the extraordinary spa, yoga and all of the activities, and to meet wonderful people from across the globe. This experience will remain in my heart and rest assured; the peacefulness that I found will be forever treasured.

]]>http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/a-lesson-in-peacefulness/feed/0Interview: The Life of Your Dreamshttp://oneworldretreats.com/blog/interview-the-life-of-your-dreams/
http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/interview-the-life-of-your-dreams/#commentsWed, 11 Jun 2014 04:31:29 +0000http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/?p=1227Have you ever experienced waking up to the fact that our lives are no longer working the way we planned... Read more »

Have you ever experienced waking up to the fact that our lives are no longer working the way we planned it to be, a sudden realization that comes from a shift of perception happening slowly over time in our lives? It is a different reality that begins to emerge inside us a sign of personal soul growth. We all must find our own way that works for us to start living the life of our dreams. Allow positive changes in your life by experiencing something different, learn new cultures and immerse in a journey of peace and harmony. Here we have Wayan Partawan talking about living the life of his dreams – introducing yoga and Kirtan into our daily lives.

What do you love most about being a Balinese?

What I love most is the culture we have, with the Balinese concept coming from the Hindu religion, which is known as TRI HITA KARANA (Three concepts cosmogony). It is about harmony, balance to create peacefulness and happiness.

Tri Hita Karana comes from the Sanskrit language meaning to keep harmony and balance from human to god (ceremony or offering), human to human (community oriented), and human to environment (nature).

How would you describe the connection between Yoga and Kirtan?

Kirtan is a meditation in call and response style, where the leader sings the mantra and the crowd responds, creating a dynamic, uplifting experience for all. The group also shares chanting vocals together and no musical experience is required. You don’t have to be able to sing in tune either as you just bring a desire to revitalize your essential self.

In yoga, we also do meditation in movement to open your body, heart and mind, to create balance and center our self.

How could chanting benefit a participant during yoga practice?

The yoga of sound involves chanting; chanting is an old technique that connects humans with themselves, the universe, and spirit.

Chantingraises vibration of the individual and as a result, people who chant feel alive, peaceful and centered in order to attain good physical health and happiness. Example; by chanting OM with the right understanding, it becomes a powerful yoga practice, also creating detachment and empowering all the mental and spiritual processes.

Explain one valuable lesson you achieved while assisting in yoga retreats at Kumara. Did you use it as a motivation to become a yoga teacher?

I could practice yoga every day and learn many different styles of yoga. This made my body stronger and more flexible. I now understand more what the purpose of yoga is and that motivated me to become a yoga teacher and find my own teaching style.

Can you tell us more about yoga, kirtan and chanting and how is it linked with the Balinese culture?

Yoga is a practical aid, not a religion. Yoga is an ancient art based on a harmonizing system of development for the body, mind and spirit. The continued practice of yoga will lead you to a sense of peace and wellbeing and also a feeling of being at one with the environment. Practicing yoga makes the body strong and flexible.

Kirtan is the calling, the crying, the reaching across infinite space – digging into your heart’s deepest well to touch and be touched by the divine presence.

Chanting is singing over and over the many names of gods and goddesses, the multi- colored rainbow manifestation of the one. The link with Balinese culture is kriya which is the daily offerings that Balinese people give to their gods and spirits. They believe that this gives harmony and peace.

Who should join your retreat?

Anyone wishing for peace and harmony in their lives and who likes to learn about different cultures.

Wayan Partawan is a lover of yoga and has a passion for chanting and deepening his spirituality. Originally a Balinese dancer, he completed his yoga teacher training at Yoga Arts and leads the now popular retreat Immerse Yourself in Bali.Read more about Wayan

]]>http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/interview-the-life-of-your-dreams/feed/0YOGA AT HOMEhttp://oneworldretreats.com/blog/yoga-at-home/
http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/yoga-at-home/#commentsWed, 11 Jun 2014 04:00:19 +0000http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/?p=12094 simple tips to practice yoga at home Do you struggle to keep practicing yoga after you got back home... Read more »

4 simple tips to practice yoga at home

Do you struggle to keep practicing yoga after you got back home from the retreat? Here are some tips from our in-house teachers Iyan and Wayan to add yoga to your daily routine.

1. How to start off a yoga practice at home?

Wayansays that one of the main reasons people stop practicing yoga is a lack of time and/or motivation. A first step would be to have your yoga mat in a visible and easy to reach spot so it works as a reminder of your goal. By just laying out the mat and sitting on it in a comfortable position with closed eyes and focus on your breathing you can start your yoga practice. Following this you can do a few sun salutations to warm up the body and finish with some basic asanas. You end your practice with relaxation by laying on your back. Iyan says 15 minutes is all you need to start your day with a lifted spirit, a calm mind and an increased energy flow in your body for the day ahead. Morning practice provides many benefits that will improve the physical and mental well-being.

2. Stay safe

To keep your practice safe, Iyan says it is advisable to do some warm up first to awaken your muscles. This can be done with some stretching and sun salutations. It is recommended to keep the yoga asanas simple so your body is comfortable with it.

3. Am I doing it right?

Wayan thinks that the biggest challenge to do a good home yoga practice is breathing. When you do the poses you should not hold your breath as this will cause stress and make it harder for you to hold your pose. Iyan adds that breathing slowly and fully is recommended as most people only use a small fraction of their lung capacity. Start by exhaling as much air as possible; this will enable you to bring in more oxygen when you’re inhaling. This will not only benefit you in your practice, but you will probably find that this will lead you to using this breathing technique on a regular basis.

Iyan also adds that there are a lot of good videos available to assist you with yoga. This can give you tips on how to breathe and position yourself during poses.

4. Tend to skip a few days?

Wayan shares that the best way to stay committed to your home yoga practice is to keep it simple and short in the beginning and make a promise to yourself to practice. Iyan says by starting of your daily yoga practice with a 21-day challenge you can easily make it a routine in your life.

Iyan Yaspriyana has the wonderful ability to live and enjoy the present moment. The combination of his Asian heritage coupled with his passion for yoga and meditation, has helped him reach a state of mind which encompasses serenity and peacefulness.

He was born in Java and after moving to Bali he discovered the depth and true merits of yoga. In 2003 he achieved his designation as an “Ashtanga” yoga teacher with the renowned Australian ‘Yoga Arts School’ of Byron Bay. Iyan has been successfully leading retreats since 2004.

Iyan’s method of teaching yoga reflects his view of life……one moment at a time and continually evolving.

Wayan Partawan is a lover of yoga and of kirtan. Over the past couple of years, Wayan has been the assistant and student of many retreat leaders at Kumara. He doesn’t miss an opportunity to go deeper in his practice. Wayan is a certified yoga teacher after completing the Yoga Arts teacher training in 2010.

]]>http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/yoga-at-home/feed/0Run to Paradisehttp://oneworldretreats.com/blog/run-to-paradise/
http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/run-to-paradise/#commentsWed, 04 Jun 2014 01:49:14 +0000http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/?p=1195By Guest Author The Global Goddess EVERY now and then I am overcome by the notion that I just need... Read more »

EVERY now and then I am overcome by the notion that I just need to disappear off the face of the planet for a week or so. And I generally pick a destination or activity that is way beyond my comfort zone and/or level of ability (which, if you’ve been following my blog for a while, is somewhat limited to drinking New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc on my back deck while pondering the parlous state of the world). As is often the case when I make any major life decisions, my choices are based purely on how a place name sounds. Yes, you’ll find me in crazy Kazakhstan or yummy Yemen any day now. Iraq sounds quite harsh to the ear but Kabul itself somewhat intriguing. I’m the same when it comes to cooking or eating out. I’ll order Baba Ghanoush while imagining I’m in an exotic Arabian land, or buy all the ingredients to cook a big pot of Jambayla just for one, because I’m convinced someone has made a huge mistake and I’m actually a sexy Spaniard. Woy Woy – well I’ve toy toyed with a trip there too. And it was only last week when I found myself downward dog facing the jungles of Ubud at a yoga retreat that I realised just how out of sync my imagination is with my body.

Lured by this particular retreat’s name “Escape the World” I flew myself to Bali and trekked up to Ubud (by trekking, I mean being picked up in an air-conditioned vehicle by my own driver), and threw myself into this concept with gusto. What could be so hard about a total of 20 hours of yoga, a 22km bike ride, wanderings through the rice paddies, and, most interestingly, 24 hours of silence where it would just me and my mischievous monkey mind?

And I didn’t know it at the time of booking, but French Canadian Claude Chouinard runs Oneworld Retreats in partnership with two Ubud princes who happen to have their regal residences also on site. Unfortunately for me, both princes were also getting married the very day I arrived, but I remain convinced had they just waited another 24 hours, at least one of them would have fallen in love with me at first sight. I mean, what’s not to love about a bedraggled Brisbane girl, hair frizzing in the Indonesian humidity, coming off the effects of her usual red wine and Xanax flying combination, clutching her duty free stash of secret wine and gin in one hand, and a yoga mat in the other? There may also be that teeny tiny issue that I am not Balinese royalty, into which both boys also married, in what is said to be a bid to preserve the culture. And I’m not sure mentioning I’m The Global Goddess and practically Brisbane royalty has the same effect, but I was prepared to give it a shot.

On our first night, Claude reminds us that despite everyone around us seemingly being able to travel, we are only a small percentage of the world who is wealthy enough to do so. He encourages us to embrace our 24 hours of silence and see it for the gift that it is.
“For just one day you can consider this silence a form of torture or one of the greatest gifts you’ll ever give yourself,” he says.
“What we know as time is in fact an illusion. For human beings, time is limited to the moment we are born, to the moment we leave this planet, a very short journey considering the age of the universe.
“Live every day by the minute and enjoy as much as you possibly can…the illusion goes by quickly.”

At first I am afraid, I am Gloria Gaynor petrified. But then I discover while I’m not allowed to read, and am discouraged from making eye contact with my fellow retreat participants even when we are in yoga classes together, I am allowed to write. And if there’s anything I love more than talking, it’s writing. But it must be mindful, and we are encouraged to pen the things we really want out of this life, and those we wish to rid, which will be burned later in the week in a sacred Balinese ceremony. After yoga and breakfast on my private balcony, I scribble and scribble until my pen runs out of ink. Before I know it, it’s lunchtime, and the food (like everything else at this retreat) is no hardship. I lunch long and languidly on the typical Indonesian salad Gado Gado (again, savouring how the words swirl around my tongue) and there’s the delicious Dadar Gulung – an Indonesian coconut crepe – for dessert.

I have a massage after lunch, and determined not to sleep but remain “mindful” to my silence, I spend the afternoon painting. I end up finishing 6 paintings (3 of which are all words) and have almost convinced myself I have captured the spirit of the talented Ubud artists who inhabit this lovely land, before I realise my ego again, is outrunning my actual talent. A swim, another yoga session, and it’s dinner on my deck, the highlight of which is steamed prawns in banana leaf. I contemplate cracking open my duty free wine but a combination of wishing to remain mindful and the fact I have a sore throat prevents this digression. My yoga teacher later tells me my throat chakra is blocked because of my fear of the silence. A less enlightened version of myself would argue it’s because of his incessant incense burning.

Each day passes in a similar dreamy rhythm. Yoga in the morning with the affable Iyan Yaspriyana while the jungle around us awakens and the cicadas chant a chorus of encouragement from the forest. Iyan encourages us every day to “go deeper”, reminding us that the mind can sometimes trick the body that it can’t go further, when it can. Daily affirmations are left in our room (and in my case, a harmless tree snake which I embrace as a good sign), there’s a dawn yoga class at volcano Batur, an evening water purification ceremony at Tirta Empul, a Balinese offering class, lunch in the rice paddies, and a closing ceremony at the retreat’s temple in which we pause to give gratitude for our lives. And most of all, I learn to sit with myself, observe the demons, laugh at the monkey, and love myself just that little bit more. According to Baby Ram Das: “The quieter you become, the more you can hear.” I can already hear the next exotic-sounding destination whispering my name.

About The Goddess

The Global Goddess is an editor and journalist who has spent 25 years working on newspapers and magazines in Australia, Hong Kong, London and Singapore. The 2006 Australian Travel Writer of the Year (Trade/Industry) and Jack Butters Memorial Award for Travel Writing Excellence winner has also contributed to two travel books – Best Foot Forward; and Red Dust and Wanderlust. In 2007, she won the title of Best Australian Story over 1000 words. When not travelling the world, you’ll find her happily lounging on the back deck of her 1920s Queenslander cottage in Brisbane, usually with a cold beer, a gutsy red and even gutsier friends, among her possums, geckos and the resident carpet snake who makes the occasional cameo appearance.

]]>http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/run-to-paradise/feed/0Penampahan Galungan Dayhttp://oneworldretreats.com/blog/penampahan-galungan-day/
http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/penampahan-galungan-day/#commentsTue, 20 May 2014 01:10:09 +0000http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/?p=1027Galungan is an important Balinese holiday. It is celebrated every 210 days due to the Balinese Calendar system. The word... Read more »

Galungan is an important Balinese holiday. It is celebrated every 210 days due to the Balinese Calendar system.

The word Galungan means victory or battle. It is a day when goodness won the battle against badness. Galungan is a sequence of celebrations starting with Sugihan Jawa and ends with Kuningan Day.

The day before Galungan is called Penampahan - a Balinese word which means slaughter. Some people usually slaughter pigs and chickens as a symbol of laziness and other bad habits and use the meats for offerings given to the evil entities so that they won’t annoy the harmony of the universe. The killing of animals in this respect is symbolic for killing ‘the animal inside yourself’ – the victory of the higher self over the ego in their struggle for control of the inner power of the individual; implicity this symbolizes the victory of dharma (good) over adharma (bad).

The meat is afterwards prepared and cooked for traditional Balinese dishes such as lawar, babi guling,and satay.

The Balinese children are especially looking forward to Penampahan Galungan as it is a typical family party day with lots of delicious dishes. The adults however are extremely busy during this day with the final preparations of the Galungan offerings.

On this day, people also should make ‘penjor‘, a bamboo pole beautifully decorated by young coconut leaves and various ornaments. These penjor are a type of offering with which people express their gratitude for the prosperity of the earth that is bestowed on them. It is put up in front of every house and building, symbolizing the great Mount Agung, and the presence of God Almighty.

Various leaves, plantations, crops, fruits and traditional cakes in diverse shapes and colors beautify the bamboo pole, which means that every element of the world is represented in penjor. It also shows the gratitude upon God Almighty because all things available on earth come from God.

]]>http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/penampahan-galungan-day/feed/0Interview: Eternally Presenthttp://oneworldretreats.com/blog/interview-eternally-present/
http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/interview-eternally-present/#commentsFri, 02 May 2014 03:28:32 +0000http://oneworldretreats.com/blog/?p=1185Making a decision to approach life with an open mind means we have opened the door to a greater life... Read more »

Making a decision to approach life with an open mind means we have opened the door to a greater life experience. We may eventually start searching for inspirational life tools or techniques to help connect to our everyday situations on a deeper level. Mindfulness is a practice that has become increasingly popular in the last 15 years. It can be learnt individually or within a group. Here we have retreat leader, Tammie Day explaining about her mindfulness techniques to use in our everyday routines. To some degree, it’s simple to shift your attention to the present moment.

How do you describe mindfulness in your retreat?

Mindfulness is simple, in fact it’s the simplest thing imaginable: being in the present moment, just focusing on one thing at time in a non-judgmental, curious and open manner. So why then do we find it so hard? Learning to quieten your mind can be a challenge for sure, but the benefits are numerous and like anything, it just takes a bit of practice.
Each year, our to-do lists grow longer, calendars become fuller and the days get shorter as we try to cram in more of everything. If you don’t have a mind-body health routine, it’s easy to be thrown off course by the whirlwind of busy-ness and activity. Learning the skill of mindfulness actually allows you to create more time— crazy I know! Studies show that regular mindfulness practitioners also live longer.
Mindfulness can also help you manage your emotions which in turn can change your perception, and maybe even the course of your life. I know I sound fanatical, but the reality is that mindfulness is life-changing. And the best thing is that the techniques you learn are available to you anytime, anywhere and they’re free!

How can being mindful benefit people?

Changes are occurring in our lives at an ever-rapid pace. Our roles as parents, partners, caretakers, employees, etc., all vie for our time and energy. We become even further stretched as we encounter life transitions such as separation, career change, loss of a loved one, health challenges or identifying our life’s purpose. The need to slow down, reconnect with ourselves and reflect on what is important to us, is a form of self-care that has become crucial to our well-being.

Mindfulness can be applied to many aspects of our health and wellbeing:

Mindfulness Triggers.
A mindfulness trigger is something that will remind you to break out of “automatic pilot” so that you can be mindful, spontaneous, calm, and free.
Mindfulness triggers are reminders for you to come back to awareness so that daily activities can become more meditative and so that your whole daily life can become a meditation practice.
The Vietnamese Buddhist Teacher Thich Nhat Hanh suggests posting little notes that will remind you to smile and relax. You can post notes so you will see them first thing in the morning, helping to set the tone for the day.
You can stick a note to your computer screen or wherever you work, in order to remind you to detach yourself from the flow of habitual thoughts and emotions for a few breaths.
Mindfulness triggers can also be ordinary actions or objects in your environment. You can learn to associate those actions and objects with being mindful, so that they act as reminders to be aware. I find that what I call “transitional events” make the best mindfulness triggers.
A transitional event is an action that involves changing from doing one thing to doing another. So walking through a door can be a transitional event that acts as a mindfulness trigger, as can getting into your car, or stepping onto a train, hearing your phone ring, or putting down a briefcase.
Pick a transitional event in your life such as stepping onto a train or closing your car door. For that period of time bring yourself into present awareness instead of wasting time thinking about what you have to do at work tomorrow, or what you’re going to eat for dinner. You can do that later, for now you can just focus on the present—what you are doing right now in this moment.
Your retreat is aimed at women. Is there any specific reason why you choose to work with women only?
I am aware that this sounds sexist! I like men, really I do!! But I’ve been a group work facilitator for seventeen years running groups with both and men and women, but I find having just one gender more relaxing and a different dynamic.
I’d also be happy to run a retreat with men only, if you can find enough who would want to participate. So I don’t know if that’s a satisfactory answer but I just find that a group of people of the same gender bond together better and create a feeling of safety and support.

Who could benefit from your retreat?

If you are ready to move into a state of greater health, possibility, balance, and joy, I invite you to join us for our Women’s Mindfulness Retreat - ONEWORLD retreats, Ubud, Bali.Date: 6 – 11 September and 2015

Tammie Day is a counsellor and group facilitator of 17 years. She runs retreats and workshops throughout Australasia and has a particular interest in the positive psychology movement, Buddhism and cultivating mindfulness. She weaves these ideas throughout her retreats and workshops, to provide you with tools to create lasting change and happiness in your life. Read more about Tammie